A COVENTRY ‘Tinder Swindler’ style fraudster who swindled more than £300,000 from four women across the UK has been jailed for seven years.
Cieran McNamara, who also uses the names Ciaran Griffin, Christian McNamara and Myles McNamara, had previously pleaded guilty to four counts of fraud by false representation.
The court heard how the 37-year-old was leading a lavish lifestyle, travelling across the UK in first class on trains, planes and in five-star hotels.
On some occasions, he met his victims online, while on others he would visit exclusive hotels and clubs.
He aimed to pray on wealthy people to manipulate for his own gain.
He would start relationships with the women convincing them he was a successful businessman with a high-value property portfolio across the UK.
To help keep up the illusion, he showed them pictures of him at mansions in London and Cheshire to substantiate his account, as well as pictures of him travelling first class across the world.
He would also flood the women with gifts and weekends away and take them out for expensive meals- but what the victims didn’t know is he was funding his lifestyle using money he had taken from other women.
After convincing his victims they were in a loving relationship, he would create a fake crisis, claiming he was having issues with his banking and needed to borrow money.
He would then say he would repay them as soon as possible.
If a woman questioned his motives, he would turn it on them and blame them for doubting him.
Between September 1, 2022 and September 25, 2023, McNamara manipulated his four victims in Cheshire, Warwickshire and Hertfordshire to hand over £302,054.26.
His Cheshire victim realised what he was doing and reported her concerns to police.
McNamara was arrested in Colchester on Thursday, September 28.
Officers have since raided a lock-up which McNamara was renting.
They recovered around £19,500 worth of brand-new goods – including a £1,900 Burberry Coat, a £400 Burberry Scarf, Dubarry boots, Gucci trainers and a Ping golf set.
Enquiries to locate other assets belonging to him remain ongoing.
